Utility patent applications cover the way an invention function while design patent applications cover the way an invention looks. Many of our clients are candidates for both utility and design applications (often for the same invention). For example, one of our clients is an inventor of a percussive instrument producing cymatic effects. The invention uses water to alter the sound of the drum. We protected the function of the drum with a utility patent (US 10,621,960). Theoretically, the drum could have many different shapes and still function the same. However, the particular drum this inventor brought to market had a specific (and good-looking) design. That specific design was protected with a design patent (D858,626).
